A* Notes of the UK Government part of the first paper UK Government and Politics. Includes following topics:
- The nature and sources of the British Constitution
- The structure and role of Parliament
- The Prime Minister and cabinet
- The judiciary
- Devolution
- The European Union
Primus Inter Pares:
• (by Walter Bagehot 1963) -> means ‘first among equals’. Implied:
o PMs = ‘First’ -> primary representatives of gov both in relation to monarch + through
right to be consulted about all significant policy issues
o PMs = ‘Among equals’ -> all members of cabinet had equal influence over decisions
Core executive:
• The collective term for the key players in government policy making
• It comprises the PM, cabinet & its various committees, senior civil servants + the Cabinet Office
Hierarchy of Cabinet Ministers:
• Secretaries of state: cabinet ministers in charge of a gov department
• Ministers of state: junior to SoS but senior to other ministers + PPSs: not usually in cabinet
(exception = chief of secretary to the Treasury)
• Parliamentary under-secretaries of state: junior to MoS + aren’t members of cabinet but can
serve on cabinet committees
• Parliamentary private secretaries (PPSs): unpaid ‘eyes + ears’ for senior ministers (officially not
members of gov)
Joined up government:
• A policy to make different departments in the same gov work together
, BACKGROUND
- The executive = technically responsible for executing/implementing gov policy
- BUT role = much wider + more significant -> chief source of political leadership + controls policy
process -> EXECUTIVE GOVERNS
- The PM is head of the executive, chair of the cabinet + in charge of the civil service
In the UK:
• Legislature = Parliament (HoC + HoL)
• Executive = the government, PM, Cabinet + government deputies
• It is a parliamentary government (our gov is drawn from our legislature)
In the US:
• Legislature = Congress (senate + house of representatives)
• Judiciary = supreme courts
• In order to be President, you have to give up place in senate
• Presidential government
2 parts:
• Political executive (‘gov of the day’) -> composed of ministers, job = take overall responsibility
for direction + coordination of gov policy
• Office executive (bureaucracy) -> composed of civil servants, job = provide policy advice +
implement gov policy
Core executive:
• See glossary
• Output of CE scrutinised by P which has control over legislation
• Connection between P & CE = party system, particularly Government Whips, who work to
ensure the Government’s majority in P operates effectively
• Major gov department e.g. Foreign Affairs + Treasury have political control exercised through a
Cabinet Minister, combined with administrative control through a Permanent Secretary drawn
from civil service
ORIGINS OF THE PRIME MINISTERS OFFICE:
- Originated with George I, when he became reluctant to attend + chair cabinet meetings his First
Lord of the Treasury deputised him → became PM
- Notable early PMs = Robert Walpole 1721-42 → George I’s 1st LoT, William Pitt the Younger =
youngest PM ever (24)
- Until 80s, PM position didn’t have official recognition → PM = technically First Lord of The
Treasury
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